The End May Actually Be in Sight...

RoaringTwenties

Weeeelll yesterday proved that spending money can sometimes make all the difference! The gardener started and it's un-be-lievable how much he got done! I'm astounded at the difference, it's so much more tidy and seems so much bigger. He got rid of the cheeky weeds and managed to strim round the legs of the trampoline which have proved impossible to us other than by using the kitchen scissors on individual blades of grass Worth £16 of anyone's money. He's going to do an hour a fortnight, at this rate it'll be like Kew Gardens in no time ooh maybe I could start charging an entrance fee? :money:

It was a day for being organised yesterday as we defrosted our second fridge freezer. Got the thrilling job of cleaning it out this morning . Still it saved me £10 on the cleaner

I think it's a FLW on eBay (as it usually is over Bank Hols?) So am going to stick a load of stuff on. Since learning of the 99p listings being abolished I've been quite focused on getting shot of loads of stuff, I've decided that anything that hasn't sold for 99p by the time they abandon that will go to the charity shop. OH says we should do a car boot at some point too which is a good idea, might look at selling via the NCT too. I was quite cross at the end of the 99p listings at first but am thinking it might be a blessing in disguise now as it'll force me to get on with clearing out, I have wardrobes full of kids clothes that I've been planning to list at some point for aggggeeesssss I've made around £60 in the last few weeks, so it does pay. Wonder if I'll beat my 53 listings record?!

Technically I have the £160 extra OP set aside but I don't honestly know if it's going to last till next Fri when end of April financial D-Day hits . It's OHs birthday on Mon & we are eating out & we *really* want some cheap garden furniture now we have a garden we actually want to sit in, we're planning on doing the B&Q thing this morning. I did a good Aldi/Asda shop yesterday so we are stocked up & *might* be able to breathe in for a week

Happy Easter all xx

Crumpets

Great news about the gardener RT:T somethings really are worth their money. When Mr C was poorly last year we had a gardener come and tidy the front garden and trim all the hedges, it was well worth it though as I wouldn't have been able to do it. (hedge trimmers are the one thing I won't use:eek:)

What's this about 99p listings being abolished? I must have missed that memo! What does it mean? Sorry for all the questions, I'm feeling a bit shocked

Have you seen any garden furniture you like yet! We brought new garden furniture last year, and I found it really stressful! All the ones I liked were way out of our budget and I refused to spend a fortune on something we'd only use for 6 months of the year. In the end we got a set from homebase with 15% off, and with a table cloth on and cushions on the chairs it actually looks alright:)

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend and happy birthday to Mrs RT

Crumpets x

RoaringTwenties

Hi Crumpets, yes the 99p listings are being abolished . I learnt of it from Goldiegirl's diary, and checked it out - from 13th May the 100 99p listings that we all got are going and instead everyone is getting 20 free listings per month of any start price, auction or BIN. Listings can start at any time. At first I was gutted as I like to just stick bits on as and when the kids let me, but the more I've thought of it I think the new system might work better for me, as previously I've only been able to stick things above 99p on on FLW which keeps me busy when everyone is at home! Plus it's pushed me to get a lot of the 99p stuff on now, when I've been threatening for ages to get on with it and never managed it . I've decided that anything that doesn't sell by the time the 99p listings go is destined for the charity shop! So at least I'll have some wardrobe space back

We're really torn over the garden furniture! Partly we live oop north so don't get as much good weather as some others, but also in the next year or two when we get the mortgage paid off we'd really like to build a big conservatory out the back. That will cover our patio and there'll be no use for garden furniture. So we are umming and ahhing . Everytime there's a bit of sun we say "that's it, we're off to B&Q", then the sun goes in and we say "shall we just wait and get some nice stuff for the conservatory?" :rotfl:

Have a nice Easter too including the elusive mini eggs and thanks for the birthday wishes to Mrs RT, she's only going to be 38 the callow youth

Goldiegirl

The more I think about it, I'm quite pleased that the 99p listings are going.


I've been on a sort of re-listing treadmill, listing things that do eventually sell, but after numerous re - listings.


I'm going to keep on until May 13th, and after that put things that haven't sold into bulk lots. And if that doesn't work, they'll go to the charity shop.


I think I've been a bit eBay obsessed, and I need to move away from it a bit.


Talking of garden furniture, that's what got me into eBay in the first place, and as a coincidence, it was 5 years ago today that I joined. We wanted to buy a new set of wooden patio tables and chairs, and wanted to get rid of our existing white plastic table and chairs. So we decided on selling them on eBay. Fortunately, the person who bought them was really helpful, and helped us through the sale, really.


Fast forward 5 years, the wooden table we bought hasn't been a success, although the chairs are still nice.


What I would like is a small bistro style set with just two chairs. I'd like to get that by next summer, but maybe not this year

RoaringTwenties

Goldiegirl wrote: »

The more I think about it, I'm quite pleased that the 99p listings are going.


I've been on a sort of re-listing treadmill, listing things that do eventually sell, but after numerous re - listings.


I'm going to keep on until May 13th, and after that put things that haven't sold into bulk lots. And if that doesn't work, they'll go to the charity shop.


I think I've been a bit eBay obsessed, and I need to move away from it a bit.


Talking of garden furniture, that's what got me into eBay in the first place, and as a coincidence, it was 5 years ago today that I joined. We wanted to buy a new set of wooden patio tables and chairs, and wanted to get rid of our existing white plastic table and chairs. So we decided on selling them on eBay. Fortunately, the person who bought them was really helpful, and helped us through the sale, really.


Fast forward 5 years, the wooden table we bought hasn't been a success, although the chairs are still nice.


What I would like is a small bistro style set with just two chairs. I'd like to get that by next summer, but maybe not this year

The bistro set sounds lovely Goldiegirl, that's the kind of thing we'd like I think, then the kids couldn't sit with us [STRIKE]only joking[/STRIKE]

I'm totally with you on the eBay situation. I'm actually starting to look forward to being able to sell things in bundles more easily and even to get to a point of recognising things just aren't selling and/or are causing more time and hassle than they're worth!

Crumpets

Did you manage to find any mini eggs RT?

RoaringTwenties

Crumpets wrote: »

Did you manage to find any mini eggs RT?

Didn't end up going out Crumpets, I'm going to take my chances tomorrow and hope if everyone else lets me down then M&S comes up with the goods :rotfl:

Crumpets

Good luck! :rotfl:

RoaringTwenties

Well before today's Mini Egg hunts gets underway I've just been reflecting on our ISA sitch. We have around £6500 in mine & £2500 in OHs. We also have £5500 in an instant access account, put aside for when we upgrade the car, planned for this summer. It's likely we'll have some of it to put back later in the year. I know the golden rule is not to touch ISA money, but with the new increase in allowance to £15k, I'm wondering if it might be sensible to stick the £5500 in one of the ISAs, even if it's just for a few months, take it out for the car & put back in before Xmas. We're getting 1-1.3% on the ISAs (soon to be 1.6% as I think we'll move to Santander) & getting 1% with tax in instant savings. I don't know, it's probably a few quid at most - but it's my few quid!

The ISA interest has come in for this year & it's a whopping £37 :eek:. It would have been more but I moved providers mid-year so got a portion of the interest early. Anyway, I'm determined that money won't change me :cool:

clippy_girl

hello :wave:

have enjoyed reading through your diary, amazing position to be in (but sad of the circumstances).

re the isa, could you see if you and oh could get a joint santander 123 current account? you get 3% on balances over £3000 and you can put in and take out as much as you want. even with paying tax on it, it would still be better would be great if it was in your name only and you put it all in as then you could get the tax back and keep all the 3% not sure if you have to have a minimum salary though so may not be able to get a sole account

i have closed my isa now and am going to open the nationwide acc that pays 5%. you can only put £2500 in which is ok for me as im just saving for a holiday :cool: